WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $340,000 for abandoned mine projects in Ontonagon County.  The funding, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or economic stimulus bill, will be used to address safety hazards and environmental damage caused by abandoned mines on U.S. Forest Service lands.

“The Upper Peninsula has a rich history built on mining, but that has also resulted in a number of abandoned mines which pose a health and safety hazard,” Stupak said.  “With the help of this funding from the economic stimulus bill, the Forest Service will now be able to move forward with mine closure efforts that will provide an economic boost for those communities where the work is performed, protect the region’s watershed and improve visitor safety.”

The U.S. Forest Service, partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Michigan Technological University, will utilize $110,000 to improve visitor safety and protect wildlife habitat by closing five to 12 vertical mine shafts in the Ottawa National Forest.

The Forest Service, DNR and Michigan Tech will also partner for a second project, utilizing $230,000 to close an additional 15 vertical mine shafts in the Ottawa National Forest and build a trail at Norwich Mine for a planned interpretive site highlighting the area’s mining history. 

Both projects are expected to create local jobs in an economically distressed area and improve visitors’ experience on the Ottawa Forest’s popular North Country National Scenic Trail.